“There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats”
Albert Einstein
Cheetahs are my favourite of all animals. Since 2009 I have followed a number of female cheetah who have an impressive lineage, with one of the cheetahs I saw back then being the great great grandmother to some of the cubs I have seen more recently.
It is incredible to see cheetahs hunt, using their speed and agility to try and take down their prey. Mothers with growing cubs to feed or a coalition of hungry boys need to hunt regularly and out on the open plains during daylight. It is beautiful to see the interaction between mother and cubs, the devotion and commitment, the training for future independence. You can also sense their vulnerability, with periods of failed hunts, the risk of any injury and other, bigger predators either taking their kill or putting their cubs at risk.
There are very few cheetah now left in the wild, predominantly due to the “exotic” pet trade, human/wildlife conflict and reducing habitat.. Please see some of the amazing organisations working on their behalf, in my “Contact” section.
Mini Me. One of Selenkei's cubs in March 2022. Cheetah cubs stick close to mum when they're very young and soon start following her mannerisms.
Through the Square Window. One of Selenkei's cubs in March 2022. Cheetah cubs regularly have to walk long distances, following mum as she tries to find food and ensure they are in a safe place. They often can't resist a good tree to climb onto!
What's For Breakfast? A female cheetah searching for scrub hares in the long grass. Whilst it's a small meal, they are easier to catch than other animals in cheetahs' diets, so are often used to supplement their diet when they are struggling to hunt.
The Tree Of Life. This was by far one of my favourite ever wildlife sightings and you knew at the time how special it was. It was definitely one of those moments you had to pinch yourself! Mum used the tree as a great vantage point - who needs a feeble termite mound - whilst the cubs used it as a fun playground. An incredible morning.
The Huntress. This female cheetah was pregnant and hunting at first light. Her target was a scrub hare, a smaller meal than normal but less challenging than a gazelle.
When The Tables Are Turned. Malaika's cubs were starting to learn from mum how to hunt and one of them got a bit too big for his boots and tried to hunt a warthog. Warthogs can be dangerous with their big tusks and the male didn't appreciate the ambitious cheetah cub's approach. The warthog pair instead ran at the cub who realised it had to make a fast exit and ran straight at our vehicle!
Thank You! Selenkei and cub in March 2022.
View Point. A typical shot of a cheetah using a termite mound to get an elevated view of the plain.
Hide and Seek. Kisaru watches nearby gazelle whilst stretching against a tree.
The Clean Up. Kisaru and cub back in November 2021. We found them just after mum had caught a female impala after a few days struggling to find food. They had a good feed, despite the nagging jackals and the hyena which appeared quite late to the party.
Brothers In Arms. The Tano Bora at first light. We spent all day with them, watching them sleep for hours and watering just about every bush in the Mara! I somehow never got to see them hunt, despite spending many days with them over the period they were together.
Sun Godess. A female cheetah looks to hunt at first light.
Tree Hugger. Cheetahs aren't made for climbing trees, with their non-retractable claws, but it doesn't stop the cubs (and occasionally adults!) from trying!
Devotion. Musiera and are very playful cub crossing the plain at first light.
Golden Lines. I significantly underexposed to just capture the backlight shining through the outline of her fur.
White Lines. A cheetah at first light, back lit. I significantly underexposed the image to emphasise the light catching the outline of her fur.
The Bond. Cheetah mums are incredible. It's a tough life trying to protect your young from predators and successfully hunt on a regular basis. This shot was taken just after Musiera had lost one of her cubs. The one shown was still calling for its sibling and the two stuck closely together. This photo always suggests to me that the cub is comforting its mum and shows the strong bond between the two.
The Playground. This was taken during a week where we focussed nearly entirely on this mum with her six cubs. It is rare to see such a big litter and every time we went back to them I found myself counting them to see if they had all still made it. Somehow mum got them all to adulthood. I hate to think how exhausting it was to hunt enough to keep them all from being hungry. Here they are exploring a termite mound whilst mum keeps watch. A few minutes later she spotted a distant gazelle, subsequently caught it and called her cubs to join her for breakfast.
A Dusty Fairytale. It was wonderful finding Musiera and her three cubs before sunrise. They took a drink from the river and then started to walk up the hillside as the sun rose. Whilst mum is generally far more serious, having to be on watch for predators and potential food opportunities, the cubs decided to play around and it was so fortunate to have them doing this in such light, with the dust catching the light behind.
The Age of Innocence. I'm not sure you can get cuter than cheetah cubs!
Fast Food. Cheetah cubs taking any opportunity they can get to get some breakfast!
Shades of Gold. You can't ask for much more than to find a cheetah at first light! This is Malkia, daughter of Malaika, standing beautifully on a termite mound with the sun rising behind her.
Bath Time. Kisaru and her cub clean up after a rather messy dinner.
My Rock. One of the last sightings I had of Malaika and her two cubs.
On Patrol. One of the Fast Five, the Tano Bora. The five boy coalition was incredible to see, and was thought to have been made up from three different litters. It is common for boys from the same litter to form a coalition but it is rare to see such a large coalition.
Neck Hair. I love the thick neck hair young cheetahs have and this shot shows it well. One theory is that they can often be confused with honey badgers, which are far more threatening to potential predators than a little cub!
On Constant Watch. I don't know how much sleep a cheetah mum gets in the 18-24 months she spends bringing up a litter, but it can't be much! This mum of six, all of which made it to adulthood, must have been on constant watch for dinner and potential predators.
The Little Adventurer! Cheetah cubs are a lot happier climbing trees than they are coming back down! It doesn't seem to stop them when they get to the next tree and try again!
Tenderness. Selenkei being expertly cleaned by her young cub.
Focused. Malaika and cubs heading towards a plain full of gazelle.
Thirsty Work. Imani and her four cubs quenching their thirst back in December 2020. I love it when they look like little honey badgers!
Affection.
My New Toy. As well as protecting, feeding and training her cubs, a cheetah mum is often used as a playground and practise for attacking prey! It's amazing how much patience they have. One of Kisaru's cubs in November 2021.
Constant Watch. Musiera and cub keep watch in the golden hour. Cheetahs are nearly always on alert, for potential food sources and the more powerful predators they need to live alongside.
Halo. The iconic cheetah on a termite mound at first light.
"Mum, You're Embarrassing Me!" Kisaru taking a quick break in November 2021.
Twins. Selenkei's two cubs take a break in March 2022.